Portuguese volcanic island hit by multiple quakes draws up evacuation plan

Satellite map shows seismic activity at Sao Jorge island after around 1,100 small earthquakes have rattled one of Portugal's mid-Atlantic volcanic islands in less than 48 hours in Azores islands, Portugal. March 21, 2022. CIVISA (Azore's Seismovolcanic Surveillance and Information Center) / Handout via REUTERS

LISBON (Reuters) - Authorities on a mid-Atlantic Portuguese volcanic island hit by thousands of small earthquakes in recent days are drawing up plans to evacuate people in case the situation worsens.

Since Saturday, about 2,000 quakes have been recorded on Sao Jorge in the Azores archipelago, Luis Silveira, the mayor of Velas, one of the island's municipalities, told reporters.